Offroad driving - Revision history

Mousy mouse: /* Organized Tours */

2013-03-11T22:20:01Z

‎Organized Tours

92.23.118.24: /* Differences between 4x2 and 4x4 */

2012-11-02T00:12:30Z

‎Differences between 4x2 and 4x4

92.23.118.24: /* Driving technics */

2012-11-02T00:07:04Z

‎Driving technics

Bill Ellett: add status

2010-08-31T23:15:21Z

add status

Inas: /* Namibia */

2010-05-26T03:28:25Z

‎Namibia

Inas: /* Hiring a car */ having agencies here is pointless.

2010-05-26T03:28:05Z

‎Hiring a car: having agencies here is pointless.

Inas: /* Terrain */

2010-05-14T04:13:56Z

‎Terrain

124.179.19.242: /* Differences between 4x2 and 4x4 */

2010-01-09T05:31:19Z

‎Differences between 4x2 and 4x4

69.85.158.7: /* Southern Africa */

2009-06-03T04:47:31Z

‎Southern Africa

69.85.158.7: /* Southern Africa */

2009-06-03T04:44:14Z

‎Southern Africa

@@ Line 156: / Line 156: @@
 == Organized Tours ==
 Organized tours are becoming quite popular. It ensures that there is at least one experienced driver in the group and that there is always someone to assist in recovery if a vehicle gets stuck. Many people also prefer the social interaction of a larger group rather just one or two vehicles travelling on their own. Some tours may even be fully catered with regular meals provided.
 {{Usabletopic}}
 {{related|Off-road_vehicles_in_California}}

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 === Differences between 4x2 and 4x4 ===
-Besides from the obvious fact that all four wheels are driven and thus givin more traction, there are other important differences between a two-wheel and a four-wheel drive:
+Besides from the obvious fact that all four wheels are driven and thus giving more traction, there are other important differences between a two-wheel and a four-wheel drive:
-* '''Low transfer gearing''': Needed to take steep, diffucult terrain slowly and carefully
+* '''Low transfer gearing''': Needed to take steep, difficult terrain slowly and carefully
 * '''Differential locks''':
-** Center differential lock: Must be locked immediatly when driving through difficult terrain, because if it not locked and one wheel loses traction, all power will be distributed to this (now free-running) wheel. If the centre differential is locked, then two wheels have to lose ground contact for this to happen, and it must me one wheel from the front and one from the back.
+** Center differential lock: Must be locked immediately when driving through difficult terrain, because if it not locked and one wheel loses traction, all power will be distributed to this (now free-running) wheel. If the centre differential is locked, then two wheels have to lose ground contact for this to happen, and it must me one wheel from the front and one from the back.
-** Axle differantial locks: Do not lock on tar (excessive tyre wear). May create difficulties on flat terrain there the surface is slippery, but traction almost the same for every wheel (e.g. sand), understeer. The rear lock always has to be engaged before the front lock!
+** Axle differential locks: Do not lock on tar (excessive tyre wear). May create difficulties on flat terrain there the surface is slippery, but traction almost the same for every wheel (e.g. sand), understeer. The rear lock always has to be engaged before the front lock!
-−
-: Rule of thumb: Engage the center lock immediatly when leaving tar, engage axle locks only to get out of diffucult situations.
 * '''Higher clearance'''

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 * '''Higher clearance'''
-== Driving technics ==
+== Driving techniques ==
 === General ===
-* Always remember to wear a saftly belt, even if driving at low speeds!
+* Always remember to wear a seat belt, even if driving at low speeds!
 * Make it a habit to ''never'' brace yourself with a "roll bar", in the event you overturn, you may crush or lose fingers.
-* Make sure your saftey helmet has face protection. (Broken jaws are common.)
+* Make sure your safety helmet has face protection. (Broken jaws are common.)
 * Do not fight against the vehicle. Let the steering wheel slip through your fingers a bit and gently guide it on the ways you want.
 * Never grip the steering wheel with your thumbs on the inside. Hitting a boulder or pothole at speed will cause the steering to turn fast and hard, resulting in a bruised, dislocated or broken thumb.
@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 * Rutting
 * River: Carefully watch other cars driving or (if safe) walk through to see how deep it is before. If the engine block is hit by the water it will be cooled down very quickly, this might result in cracks. Try to avoid water deeper than the hub of the wheel.
-* Sand: Release pressure out of the tyres before hitting a sand track, 0.8 to 1.0 bar, depending on the load of the vehicle. Do not try to steer agains resitance, the car will usually seach his track. Do not shift gears. Do not brake as this will build up small hills of sand in fromt of you tyres, making it difficult to start again. If you get stuck do not try to accelerate as this will only dig you more into the sand. Try driving backwards instead. Use high ratio because the additional momentum given by the low transfer gear will cause wheelspin.
+* Sand: Release pressure out of the tyres before hitting a sand track, 0.8 to 1.0 bar, depending on the load of the vehicle. Do not try to steer against resistance, the car will usually seach his track. Do not shift gears. Do not brake as this will build up small hills of sand in front of your tyres, making it difficult to start again. If you get stuck do not try to accelerate as this will only dig you more into the sand. Try driving backwards instead. Use high ratio because the additional momentum given by the low transfer gear will cause wheelspin.
 * Mud
 * Snow

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:15, 31 August 2010
Line 158:		Line 158:
	Organized tours are becoming quite popular. It ensures that there is at least one experienced driver in the group and that there is always someone to assist in recovery if a vehicle gets stuck. Many people also prefer the social interaction of a larger group rather just one or two vehicles travelling on their own. Some tours may even be fully catered with regular meals provided.		Organized tours are becoming quite popular. It ensures that there is at least one experienced driver in the group and that there is always someone to assist in recovery if a vehicle gets stuck. Many people also prefer the social interaction of a larger group rather just one or two vehicles travelling on their own. Some tours may even be fully catered with regular meals provided.

		+	{{Usabletopic}}

	{{related\|Off-road_vehicles_in_California}}		{{related\|Off-road_vehicles_in_California}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:28, 26 May 2010
Line 158:		Line 158:
	Organized tours are becoming quite popular. It ensures that there is at least one experienced driver in the group and that there is always someone to assist in recovery if a vehicle gets stuck. Many people also prefer the social interaction of a larger group rather just one or two vehicles travelling on their own. Some tours may even be fully catered with regular meals provided.		Organized tours are becoming quite popular. It ensures that there is at least one experienced driver in the group and that there is always someone to assist in recovery if a vehicle gets stuck. Many people also prefer the social interaction of a larger group rather just one or two vehicles travelling on their own. Some tours may even be fully catered with regular meals provided.

−	~~=== [[Namibia]] ===~~
−	* <listing name="West Coast 4x4" alt="Weskus 4x4" directions="" address="" phone="+27 (0)22 715 4843" email="don@westcoast4x4.co.za" fax="+27 (0)22 715 4844" url="http://www.weskus4x4.co.za/intro_e.htm" hours="" price="">Arranges 5 and 6 day desert tours departing Luderitz. Some tours are catered. Bring your own vehicle and equiptment.</listing>

	{{related\|Off-road_vehicles_in_California}}		{{related\|Off-road_vehicles_in_California}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:28, 26 May 2010
Line 154:		Line 154:

	Be sure to check on the cost of insurance and the excess payable in the event of an accident or theft of the vehicle.		Be sure to check on the cost of insurance and the excess payable in the event of an accident or theft of the vehicle.
−
−	~~=== [[Southern Africa]] ===~~
−	* <listing name="Bushlore" url="http://www.bushlore.com/" email="info@bushlore.com" phone="+27 (0)11 792-5300" fax="+27 (0)11 792-3947" address="Unit A5,
−	~~Sanlam Industrial Park, Masjien Road, Randburg, Johannesburg">Branches in [[Johannesburg]], [[Cape Town]], [[Kasane]], [[Victoria Falls]] and [[Windhoek]]</listing>~~
−	* <listing name="Bush Trackers" url="http://www.bushtrackers.co.za/fourbyfour.asp" email="bushtrackers@iafrica.com" phone="+27 (0)11 465-5700" fax="+27 (0)11 465-5700"></listing>
−	* <listing name="Kea Campers" url="http://sa.keacampers.com/" phone="+27 (0)11 230-5200" phoneextra="+49 (211) 2297 5440 (European contact number)" email="reservationssa@keacampers.co.za">Branches in [[Johannesburg]], [[Cape Town]] and [[Windhoek]], [[Namibia]]</listing>
−	* <listing name="Maun Self Drive 4x4" url="http://maunselfdrive4x4.webs.com/" email="MaunSelfDrive@hotmail.com" address="Maun, Botswana"></listing>
−

	== Organized Tours ==		== Organized Tours ==

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 * Gravel
-* Corrugation: On gravel roads sooner or later corrugation will build up. This will result in shaking if you drive more than about 20 km/h. At a much higher speed (80 km/h) it will get better, as the car "jumps" from wave to wave.
+* Corrugation: On gravel roads sooner or later corrugation will build up. This will result in shaking if you drive more than about 20 km/h. At a higher speed (70 km/h) it will get better, as the car skims from wave to wave.
+* Rutting
-* River: Carefully watch other cars driving or walk through to see how deep it is before. If the engine block is hit by the water it will be cooled down very quickly, this might result in cracks. Try to avoid water deeper than the hub of the wheel.
+* River: Carefully watch other cars driving or (if safe) walk through to see how deep it is before. If the engine block is hit by the water it will be cooled down very quickly, this might result in cracks. Try to avoid water deeper than the hub of the wheel.
-−
 * Sand: Release pressure out of the tyres before hitting a sand track, 0.8 to 1.0 bar, depending on the load of the vehicle. Do not try to steer agains resitance, the car will usually seach his track. Do not shift gears. Do not brake as this will build up small hills of sand in fromt of you tyres, making it difficult to start again. If you get stuck do not try to accelerate as this will only dig you more into the sand. Try driving backwards instead. Use high ratio because the additional momentum given by the low transfer gear will cause wheelspin.
 * Mud

@@ Line 161: / Line 161: @@
 * <listing name="Bush Trackers" url="http://www.bushtrackers.co.za/fourbyfour.asp" email="bushtrackers@iafrica.com" phone="+27 (0)11 465-5700" fax="+27 (0)11 465-5700"></listing>
 * <listing name="Kea Campers" url="http://sa.keacampers.com/" phone="+27 (0)11 230-5200" phoneextra="+49 (211) 2297 5440 (European contact number)" email="reservationssa@keacampers.co.za">Branches in [[Johannesburg]], [[Cape Town]] and [[Windhoek]], [[Namibia]]</listing>
-* <listing name="Maun Self Drive 4x4" url="http://maunselfdrive4x4.webs.com/" email="MaunSelfDrive@hotmail.com" address="Maun, Botswana">
+* <listing name="Maun Self Drive 4x4" url="http://maunselfdrive4x4.webs.com/" email="MaunSelfDrive@hotmail.com" address="Maun, Botswana"></listing>
 == Organized Tours ==